Readers speak out on Licking County courthouse lighting decision

County should reverse lighting choice

It's in the best interest of Newark for the commissioners to reverse their decision on lighting the courthouse during the Newark Pride celebration. The rumor is that downtown Newark is in the midst of a revitalization, and the progress has been amazing to watch. Economically, showing tolerance for LGBTQ rights is a win for the community. If there's any doubt about this, just look at the U.S. as a whole. The poorest states also happen to be the ones with the most anti-LGBTQ laws on the books. Overall, LGBTQ people are richer, more educated, and carry less debt than straight people. Why wouldn't Newark want to demonstrate for even one day with some lights that it welcomes this demographic? It's akin to shooting oneself in the foot. Columbus City Hall lights up in a rainbow, and the city remains vibrant, attractive, and thriving. The small investment of a night of lights will provide a return that far exceeds the electricity bill.

Lisa Savage
Granville

Pride lighting deserved support

I think it is very sad when young creative people of all persuasions are trying to bring life back into the crumbling downtown Newark area and try to organize an event (the first Pride celebration on June 9th downtown in the Canal Market District) and are told that their celebration will not be recognized by lighting up the courthouse because it is not representative of the entire public. In this day and age, what does the “public” fully agree on anymore?

Christian Faur
Granville

Candidate opposes lighting decision

I am deeply dismayed by the Commissioners’ decision to refuse to light our courthouse for Newark Pride. A group of citizens representing a community that has struggled to be heard and that fought for respect came to our county leaders and were dismissed. LGBT community members are our friends and neighbors, our brothers and sisters, our mothers, fathers and children. They are citizens of our county - they deserve the same respect from our leaders that we would all want.

If we want to build a stronger, better Licking County we need to begin right here. Support our citizens working to build a more respectful community. Licking County needs leaders that are ready to embrace our diversity and show that support in a proud, public manner. We need leaders planning for a new, diverse future that will create a stronger Licking County.

This November we have a chance to change our representation in county government. I’m running for Licking County Commissioner in order to give us all a choice, a choice to build a government that works for employers and employees, big businesses and small, the most advantaged and the least advantaged, the western side of our county as well as the eastern. It’s time to build a county government that wants to work for all of its citizens and shows pride in doing so.

Learn more by visiting my website - www.rhodes2018.com.

Adam Rhodes
Candidate for Licking County Commissioner

Lakewood using weird logic

It seems like the Lakewood School Board members were using some weird logic when they decided not to offer Kevin Krier the full-time principal's job at the high school. Despite the fact that he apparently was doing a good job as the temporary principal, and, the teachers and superintendent all endorsed him. Those factors alone should have been enough. (Board President Steve) Thorp said he heard from the "community" that they wanted a change. The "community" has NO clue what goes on within the school when it comes to teacher/principal interactions, or how well Krier had already done and would continue to do. It is also sad that Bill Gulick felt he needed to resign, but apparently enough was enough. If you are working with people who don't seem to have good sense it's hard to get anything done.

Shame on the School Board for not only this decision, but not finding a solution to replacing Hebron Elementary. I'd like to know what the remaining members think their job actually is for the Lakewood community. I've supported this school district for 17 years, but no more. I'll not vote for another levy! Maybe you should have thought about the importance of a good education for your students rather than building a very expensive football stadium! That speaks volumes to the mindset of this current leadership!

Judith Williams
Hebron

History should be preserved

It was gratifying to read (in the April 3rd article "Newark council advances Cherry Valley Road realignment") that City Engineer Brian Morehead cited historic value as a factor in the decision to leave the existing Cherry Valley Road bridge in place, despite the coming construction of a new bridge over Raccoon Creek in conjunction with the Thornwood project.

Indeed, the existing bridge, called Showman's Arch, has profound historic significance for our area. Built in 1832, it was originally an aqueduct for the Granville feeder in the Ohio and Erie Canal system. When the canal system became defunct, the bridge carried wheeled vehicles, including the stagecoach that ran between Newark and Granville.

From 1890 to 1923, the Interurban Electric Railway traveled the same route, cutting travel time between the two towns to 17 minutes, then an astonishing speed. The Interurban was followed by bus service. And nowadays all of us who drive the well-worn route along Cherry Valley hardly think about the still sturdy structure beneath us, which we've been crossing for almost two centuries.

It is clearly time to have a new, safer bridge. But leaving Showman's Arch in place and visible from the bike path is essential, guaranteeing that our communities will continue to enjoy this irreplaceable piece of our shared historic heritage.

Lyn Boone
Granville Historical Society

Insults Do Not Solve Problems

Conservatives and Progressives, let’s stop hurling insults at each other and start working together to find solutions that most people can live with. Start with guns. The goal is to stop as many mass shootings, murders, and suicides as possible. Realistically, we can’t stop them all nor can we stop all those that should not have guns from getting them. Doing nothing is not an option.

Here is one idea for universal background checks. The buyer rather than the seller gets their own background check if they want to purchase guns. This could be an extra endorsement on the driver’s license and could be done at county license bureaus. License bureaus would already have much of the equipment needed. This endorsement would then be updated every time the individual had to renew their driver’s license. The seller, whether a business or a private individual, would have the responsibility of taking a picture of the license, keeping record of the sale, and verifying with a data base. The data base needs to improve efficiency so this could be done on the spot. Most have smart phones today thus making this easy to do even for private individuals. This would solve the gun show issue.

Of course the details of this idea would need to be worked out before it was implemented. We need to keep ideas coming for gun issues as well as other issues. Call your representatives with your ideas. Let’s start working together rather than insulting each other.

Sally Gartner
St. Louisville

'Conservatives' have given us problems

I have seen some, disgusting political ads in my lifetime. None more disgusting than Larry Householder shooting a television set, to make sure we know that guns are more important than reeling in gun violence. These candidates proudly proclaim themselves to be “conservatives.” Think about that as you consider who to vote for. Conservatives have given us a bloated deficit, three unconstitutional wars-for-profit in the Middle East. They shoved a President down our throat who has no moral compass, spends the majority of his time on the golf course, costing taxpayers millions of dollars. A President, who ordered the bombing of Syria, because they bombed themselves. Targets, that were nothing more than empty buildings.

These are candidates who proclaim their love for “conservative” politics, at the same time proclaim their unwavering support for this disgrace of a President. They’re even attacking one another for not idolizing Trump enough! This is not the politics of the average American. We must make a statement in, this election year with renewed effort to reject these right wing fanatics. Enough is enough. Conservative candidates have little or no family values, placing gun ownership over the lives of not just people, but our children, our future! Young people are being gunned down in schools and colleges at an epidemic rate. Reject the conservative politics of Householder, Troy Balderson and Mike Dewine. When you see these slick ads, remember they were financed by Political Action Committees, or P.A.C.s, who have their own agenda.

Garry Goldsmith
Heath Ohio

Unjust conviction needs overturned

The case of Steven Smith needs to be reopened and he needs to be freed. He is currently serving an 11 year term at Warren Correctional Facility. I am convinced that he was falsely charged and convicted for cocaine possession and trafficking. Steve is an African American Muslim who started a restaurant in 2012 in Newark, Ohio.

In July of 2014, a package was delivered to his restaurant by police officer disguised as a FedEx deliveryman. It did not have his name on the package or the correct address and he did not sign for it, but without a controlled buyer and based only on circumstantial evidence, he was convicted by an all white jury in Newark Courthouse.

The prosecutor’s office maliciously attacked Steven in court and distorted the truth to gain a conviction. Steven did not receive due process of law as guaranteed by our constitution and I believe that he was railroaded by a parade of 16 law enforcement officials on the stand. This is a grave injustice against a man who has worked to educate young people and improve our community

Questions must be raised about the prosecutor’s misconduct and about the Bureau of Criminal Investigations which has come under scrutiny for discriminatory procedures. The police and drug enforcement agents must also be called into question and most importantly Steven should be released from prison to rejoin his family and community.

David Greene
Newark

More information on McKenna Market

Thank you for the article about "new" McKenna Market coming to Newark. As the great-granddaughter of the owner of the original Downtown Newark McKenna Market, John McKenna, I have some additional information and clarification.

My father, Floyd McKenna, was owner and manager of Maybolds Shoe Store, at 32 South 3rd St. from the early 1950s until his death in 1992. Before him, his father (Charles) Parnell McKenna owned and managed Maybolds. As a young man, and the youngest of 11 children, my grandfather Parnell helped his father, John McKenna run the McKenna's General Store on 2nd St., as well as the saloon next door, with his many older brothers. My great-grandfather, John McKenna was a first generation immigrant from Ireland and the first of a long line of Downtown Newark, McKenna merchants. It will be good to have a "new" McKenna market in town, and I look forward to visiting it.

Anne (McKenna) Recznik
Wintersville, Ohio

Election letter deadline passed

The deadline to submit letters for the upcoming primary election has passed. No letters regarding that election will be considered for publication.